The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

I'm going to have to start this review by putting my own religious views into perspective somewhat, a task I would normally be adverse to doing but one that I believe is necessary so that any readers can understand why I may seem to be recommending this book in a particularly forceful manner.

I am an atheist.

This means a few things and doesn't mean a few things. One thing it means is that I am rational and reasonable and try not to review books based on any sort of passionate feeling I get while reading them unless I can easily define that passion and explain why it should be instilled in another reader. One thing it doesn't mean is that I only like atheist readings or atheist authors and dislike religious readings or authors.

Now, that said: You should read this book.

Richard Dawkins is an intelligent man and has written a great many books on several subjects (The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, Unweaving the Rainbow,). He has also hosted BBC television shows (Root of all Evil?). His latest book, The God Delusion, is a rationalist's handbook of sorts, going through what Dawkins calls "The God Hypothesis" and systematically debunking the whole thing. He begins with the "proofs" for the hypothesis and refutes them. He then goes through the reasoning against the hypothesis in scientific form, utilizing probability, rhetoric, and empiricism to come to a final conclusion.

The remainder of the book tackles less scientific claims for the existence of God, whether or not religion is a necessary thing, where it may have evolved from, both culturally and neurologically, and a few other, smaller topics that are important given today's political and social environment.

Again, as an atheist I enjoy this book because it serves as a guide for my own beliefs, but that is not the only reason why I recommend this read. This book is well thought out, well written and, most importantly, it's damn funny. Dawkins has a sense of humor about the subject he's tackling that makes the book exciting and entertaining to read. It most certainly treats the topics with gravitas, and it pulls no punches when dealing with the more serious one's, such as child molestation, terrorism and the "American Theocracy", but, peppered throughout are witticisms and anecdotes that will make you chuckle out loud, if only at others stupidity and assumed authority.

I suggest reading this if you are also an atheist. As I said, it's a good guidebook and contains within it information with which to back up your choices as an atheist.

I suggest reading this if you are religious. It contains within it the most commonly utilized, and most well though out, refutations of religious doctrine and practice and, at the very least, should be studied in order to gain a better perspective on your own faith.

I also suggest reading this if you have no desire to read about religion or politics or philosophy or science. If you don't have an interest in these things you might be dead and trying to pick up a book and read it is a great empirical test to determine if you are indeed a fully functioning human being.